Australia 2006-P Discover Australia - UNESCO World Heritage Sites - Ayers Rock / Uluru and Aborigine $1 Pure Silver Dollar Proof with Color DX1 - Talisman Coins Australia 2006-P Discover Australia - UNESCO World Heritage Sites - Ayers Rock / Uluru and Aborigine $1 Pure Silver Dollar Proof with Color DX1 Price: $129.95 $69.95 Product Description Beautiful color highlights the iconic monument of the Australia outback, Ayers Rock! Uluru, traditionally known as Ayers Rock, is a large sandstone monolith in the southern part of the Northern Territory, central Australia. It lies 208 miles by air southwest of the nearest large town, Alice Springs (or 280 miles by road). Kata Tjuta (the Olgas) and Uluru are the two major features of the Uluru - Kata Tjuta National Park. Uluru is sacred to the Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara, the Aboriginal peoples of the area. It has many springs, waterholes, rock caves and ancient paintings. Uluru is listed as an UNESCO World Heritage Site .

Uluru / Ayers Rock Situated in the heart of the continent, Ayers Rock is Australia's most famous natural landmark. The world-renowned sandstone formation rises 1,142 feet above the surrounding desert. However, like an iceberg, most of its bulk lies below the surface. The Rock measures nearly six miles in circumference. Both Uluru and Kata Tjuta have great cultural significance for the Anangu landowners, who lead walking tours to inform visitors about the local flora and fauna, bush foods and the Aboriginal Dreamtime stories of the area. Click here for more coins featuring famous landmarks and monuments! Uluru is notable for appearing to change color as the different light strikes it at different times of the day and year, with sunset a particularly remarkable sight when it briefly glows red. Although rainfall is uncommon in this semiarid area, during wet periods the rock acquires a silvery-gray color, with streaks of black algae forming on channels of water flow. The Perth Mint has done a remarkable job of depicting this natural wonder in the color often seen at sunset on this one ounce pure silver proof. The sense of being there in the primeval setting is heightened by the presence of the aborigine and the desert vegetation.

Please note, the mint images of this beautiful proof coin do not do it justice. The fields are deeply mirrored, the relief devices are white-frosted cameo, and the deep, rich colors of Ayers Rock / Uluru are incredible! Click here for more UNESCO World Heritage Sites! Technology Note The Perth Mint of Australia employs its own proprietary colorization technology, in which the color is actually sealed on the coin. The vibrant hues and precise execution of the technology create a stunning, full-color portrait on each coin. Click here for other great colored coins! Obverse An indigenous Australian man, an aborigine, stands in the foreground of this dramatic view of Ayers Rock (known in the local aboriginal language as Uluru) at sunset. The desert vegetation and impressive coloration lend to the sense of being there. The legends ULURU and DISCOVER AUSTRALIA define the theme. The Perth Mint's "P" mint mark is judiciously placed under the monument to the right, near the 3:30 position along the rim. The legend 1 OZ 999 SILVER guarantees the weight and purity. Click here for more great pure silver coins!

Reverse Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II of England, in crowned profile facing right. This portrait, featuring Her Majesty wearing a tiara and pearl drop earrings, was executed by the sculptor Ian Rank-Broadley. The legend ELIZABETH II and denomination also appear. Click here for other beautiful silver dollars! Packaging The coin is encapsulated inside an elegant, luxury presentation case with a native Australian sheoak wood lid, protected by a full-color outer box. An individually-numbered certificate of authenticity is included. Specifications Australian Landmarks - Natural and Man Made Australian Landmarks Help this resource grow by sharing with others ..... 25 of Australia's amazing landmarks, unique natural wonders and iconic structures. (see bottom of page for 3 bonus lists) Sydney Opera House Conductor Eugene Goossens began work with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in 1947, and soon afterwards approached John Cahill, then premier of New South Wales, with an idea to build an opera house for the state. However, it was not until 1956 that the NSW Government announced that they would hold a design competition for an opera house to be located at Bennelong Point, Sydney. A Danish architect Jorn Utzon was the winner.

While the Sydney Opera House was being built, several government officials demanded Utzon make changes to his design. He refused, and the arguments between Utzon and the officials ended with Utzon leaving Australia in 1966 never to return. In 1973, the Sydney Opera House was finally completed. Show the Map Uluru - Ayres Rock Uluru stands 348 metres high and is more than 9 kilometres around its base. However, the section that is visible is only one-third of the rock. The other two-thirds is under the ground. This makes Uluru one of the largest monoliths in the world. In 1873, British explorer William Gosse named the rock after the premier of South Australia, Henry Ayers. For most of the 1900s, the federal government controlled Ayers Rock. However, in 1985, the government handed the rock and the surrounding land back, Kata Tjuta National Park, to the Traditional Aboriginal custodians. It is now known by its traditional name, Uluru. It is also a listed World Heritage Area for both its cultural and natural values.

Show the Map Shark Bay - Western Australia Historically an important area due to the belief that the first European to set foot on Western Australian soil did so on a small island in Shark Bay. In 1616, Dutch explorer Dirk Hartog sailed along the west coast of the continent. He left behind a pewter plate on a pole, inscribed with the details of his visit at the site now known as Cape Inscription. Later, in 1699, British explorer William Dampier explored the area and gave it the name 'Shark's Bay' because of the large numbers of sharks he saw. Shark Bay contains the world's best collection of stromatolites, a form of algae that are among the oldest life forms in the world. It also has one of the world's largest dugong populations, with about 14 000 of these strange-looking sea animals living in the region. In addition, dolphins, humpback whales and turtles live in the bay or pass through it. Five species of endangered mammals also live in the Shark Bay area. In 1991, Shark Bay was listed as a World Heritage site. As you would expect there are also plenty of sharks!

Show the Map Great Barrier Reef Located off the coast of Queensland, the Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system composed of roughly 3,000 individual reefs and 900 islands. Selected as a World Heritage Site in 1981 and it has also been touted as one of the seven natural wonders of the world. It is also the world's largest World Heritage Area extending 2,000 kilometres and covering an area of 35 million hectares. The Great Barrier Reef can be seen from outer space and is the world's biggest single structure made by living organisms. Show the Map Kakadu National Park The World Heritage Listed Kakadu National Park is a unique archaeological and ethnological reserve, located in the Northern Territory. Inhabited continuously for more than 40,000 years it features cave paintings, rock carvings and archaeological sites that have recorded the skills and way of life of the region's inhabitants. The most prominent physical feature in Kakadu is the Arnhem Land Escarpment, a 1.6 billion-year-old sandstone cliff that stretches for miles across the park.

The cliff, which hosts many waterfalls, is surrounded by towers of sandstone, rainforests, and swamps. It is also one of the most remote and wild regions of the country, filled with tropical forests, torrential monsoons, high humidity, wild animals, and few people. The park's 10,000 sq kilometers of woodlands, wetlands, and floodplains are home to an amazing array of wildlife, including more than 300 species of birds, 75 species of reptiles, 50 species of mammals, 1,500 species of butterflies and moths, 50 species of fish, 25 species of frogs, and thousands of species of plants, many of which remain unclassified. Show the Map Sydney Harbour Bridge The Sydney Harbour Bridge construction started in 1923 from the design by Dorman Long and Co's Consulting Engineer, Sir Ralph Freeman. It took 1400 men eight years to build and includes six million hand driven rivets and 53,000 tonnes of steel making up its construction. 272,000 litres of paint were required to give the Bridge its initial three coats!

Sadly, sixteen workers died during construction, but surprisingly only two from falling off the bridge. It now carries eight traffic lanes and two rail lines and almost 200,000 cars per day cross the bridge. It is the world's largest steel arch bridge with the top of the bridge standing 134 metres above the harbour. Show the Map Bungle Bungles Familiar to Aboriginal Australians for centuries, most Europeans knew nothing of the Bungle Bungles until the 1980s, when they became part of the 45,000 hectare Purnululu National Park in Western Australia. The mountains rise 200 to 300 meters above a forest and grass plain in the Kimberley and cover an area of about 35 km by 24 km. Water is responsible for both the whimsical shape and colorful banding of these mountains. The beehive-shaped mounds are made of sandstone and other conglomerate rocks, deposited in the area by the meandering braids of ancient rivers. Water has also created the colorful bands that circle the Bungle Bungles.

Where layers of the rock are soft, water seeps in, allowing dark algae to grow in black bands. The orange bands are made by a thin layer of iron and manganese, which coats layers of the rock, making them less permeable to water. Show the Map The Horizontal Falls The Horizontal Falls, near Talbot Bay, in the north-west of Western Australia is described by David Attenborough as "one of the greatest natural wonders of the world". Although they are called waterfalls, this natural phenomenon actually consists of immense tidal currents hurtling through narrow coastal gorges. And they do all this sideways - hence the name, Horizontal Falls. It is created by the enormous variation in tides - which are as much as 10 metres driven by the massive Montgomery Reef located 30 miles out to sea from the bay. The water level rising, or falling, in Talbot Bay (due to the tide) causes a major height difference with the water level in the inlet on the other side of the Falls. The velocity and mass of water involved in this twice daily event make it one of the largest tidal changes in the world. Talbot Bay is almost Australia's last frontier, few people have ever seen this spectacular event. There is no car access.

Show the Map The Twelve Apostles The Twelve Apostles are the most famous of all formations along the spectacular Great Ocean Road in Victoria. Formed over many years by the errosive action of the sea against Limestone and Volcanic rock the tallest of the rock stacks is around 45 metres high. Today there are only there are only eight of the original twelve still standing due to the continous natural errosive forces. The stretch of coastline is known as the Shipwreck Coast because more than 80 ships have gone down here due to the rough ocean and rugged rock stacks. Show the Map Wave Rock Wave Rock is a natural large stone formation in Western Australia near the town of Hyden. The formation is said to be many millions of years old and contains strips of grey and red granite in the wave formation. Its rounded wave-like shape, formed by weathering and water erosion, reaches 15 metres in height and extends 110 metres in length. Nearby there are other rock formations such as the Hippo's yawn, The Falls and the Breakers. Show the Map The Three Sisters The Three Sisters is part of the Blue Mountains National Park which is located just an hours drive west of Sydney.

The formation is named after the Aboriginal dreamtime story of three sisters named Meehni, Wimlah and Gunnedoo who lived with their father. The Blue Mountains National Park area itself was originally formed many thousands of years ago from the sediment of a very large river system which over the years have eroded the surrounding landscape to form the multitude of deep valleys and relatively high peaks we find today. The Blue Mountains earned their name from the distinctive and deep blue haze caused by scattered rays of light coming in contact with fine dust particles and droplets of oil dispersed from the eucalyptus trees in the valleys. Show the Map Lake Eyre Lake Eyre, in South Australia, is Australia's largest salt lake, situated in the driest region in the country to the east and north-east of the lake lie the Tirari, Strzelecki and Sturt Stony deserts, for most, inhospitable environments. When dry, much like in the photo to the left - which is its usual state, the lake bed is a glistening sheet of white salt. When the lake does fill which has only been on three occasions in the last century, it becomes temporarily Australia's largest lake as it spreads out to 9500 square kilometres.

The lake itself was named after Edward John Eyre who in 1840 became the first European to sight it. Show the Map Australian Antarctic Territory The Australian Antarctic Territory is the part of Antarctica claimed by Australia and is the largest territory of Antarctica claimed by any nation an area estimated at 6,119,818 km sq. in size, which is almost as large as the Australian mainland. Antarctica is the coldest, windiest, driest and highest continent in the world. It is also the most isolated where for part of the year the sun doesn't rise, and for another part it never sets. The territory is inhabited only by the staff of research stations and occasional tourists. Technically the highest peak in Australia, Mount McClintock stands at 3,492m within the Australian Antarctic Territory. Show the Map Swan Bells - Perth The Swan Bells are a set of eighteen bells hanging in a specially built 82.5 m-high copper and glass campanile in Perth, Western Australia and is one of the largest sets of change ringing bells in the world.

Swan Bells is one of only three peals of 16 bells hung for change-ringing in the world, the others being in Dublin and Birmingham. It features two extra 'semitone' bells although all 18 are never rung together. Twelve of the set are historic bells from St Martin-in-the-Fields church in Trafalgar Square in London and the six others were cast in recent times. Show the Map Port Arthur Port Arthur was named after Van Diemen's Land lieutenant governor George Arthur. The settlement started as a timber station in 1830; it is best known for being a penal colony. From 1833, until 1850s, it was a destination for the hardest of convicted British and Irish criminals, those who were secondary offenders having re-offended after their arrival in Australia. Port Arthur was secured naturally by shark-infested waters on three sides and the 30m wide isthmus of Eaglehawk Neck that connected it to the mainland was crossed by fences and guarded by prison guards and dogs. Today, Port Arthur is one of Australia's great tourism destinations located within the scenic beauty and wonder of Tasmania.

Show the Map Cradle Mt - Lake St Clair Lake St Clair National Park which includes Cradle Mountain is part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. Lake St Clair is the deepest lake in Australia and the head of the Derwent River. Show the Map The Australian Alps The Australian Alps is an amazing mountanious region featuring 11 national parks and reserves. It's renowned for it's winter snow and summer flora. It's home to Mount Kosciuszko, Australia's highest peak and the region is part of the Great Dividing Range which extends from Queensland through New South Wales and into Victoria. Show the Map Ningaloo Reef and Shark Bay Stretching for almost 300 kilometres Ningaloo Reef is a World Heritage listed coral reef system. The nearby Shark Bay, Australia's largest bay, features a 1,030 square kilometre Wooramel Seagrass Bank and is the largest of its type in the world. Ningaloo Reef is, at times, home to the Whale Shark, the largest fish species in the world. Show the Map Watarrka National Park and Kings Canyon Watarrka National Park in the Northern Territory is home to some amazing landscapes and in particular, Kings Canyon.

Kings Canyon goudes it's way into the earth some 270 metres at points. Show the Map Kangaroo Island An island 7 times the size of Singapore yet home to only just over 4 thousand people. The island is a natural wonderland featuring amazing coastal scenery and diverse wildlife such as koalas, kangaroos, penguins, goannas, fur seals and sea lions to name some. Show the Map Fraser Island Fraser Island off the Queensland coast is the world's largest sand island. It's 123 km long and 25 km at its widest. It was World Heritage-listed in 1992. Show the Map Bondi Beach Bondi Beach is about one kilometre long and receives many visitors throughout the year. It was added to the Australian National Heritage List in 2008. Apart from being a beautiful and popular beach it has also been the backdrop in several movies and recently TV shows. Show the Map The Daintree Rainforest The Daintree Rainforest covers an area of around 1,200 square kilometresmaking it the single largest block of tropical rainforest in Australia. It is also World Heritage listed.

Apart from strikingly diverse landscape it's home to a diverse array of flora and fauna, some being of the most ancient in the world. Show the Map The Great Ocean Road The Great Ocean Road stretches along the Victorian coast for some 243-kilometres between Torquay and Warrnambool. The road was built by returned soldiers between 1919 and 1932, and is dedicated to casualties of World War I making it the world's largest war memorial. The road is also Australian Heritage Listed. Show the Map The Kimberleys The Kimberley was one of the earliest settled parts of Australia, with the first arrivals landing about 40,000 years ago from the islands of what is now Indonesia.The Kimberley is an area of 423,517 square kilometres (163,521 sq mi), which is about three times the size of England or twice the size of Victoria. Pictured is Mitchell Falls.

Show the Map 3 more lists of landmark and tourist attractions Trip Advisors Top 10 Aussie landmarks Tripadvisor Sydney Opera House, Sydney Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park travel guide - Wikitravel History[ edit ] The Anangu people have connected to the area for thousands of years. Some records suggest they may have been there for more than 10,000 years. On an expedition in 1872, the explorer Ernest Giles saw the rock formation from a considerable distance, although he did not reach the base. Giles described it as "the remarkable pebble". In 1873, the surveyor William Gosse followed his footsteps and reached the rock. He chose to name it in honor of the Chief Secretary of South Australia, Sir Henry Ayers. Giles himself chose to name the domes nearby for Olga, the Queen of Württemberg. The names Uluru and Kata Tjuta come from the local Anangu people and respectively mean "Earth Mother" and "Many Heads".

In the Anangu language they are written as Uluru and Kata Tjuta, the letters with underscores indicating that they are pronounced with the tongue curled upwards and touching the upper part of the palate instead of the front part or the teeth. Eventually, the Australian government moved to a dual-naming policy - initially "Ayers Rock / Uluru", and then "Uluru / Ayers Rock". Both names are still in frequent use. Although most official materials use the Anangu names. Landscape[ edit ] Water formation on the top of Uluru Rock (Ayers Rock) Yulara is the only service village nearby. This is more important than it sounds because people are not allowed to spend the night inside the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Also, Yulara has a fuel station, restaurants, police station, tour company offices and a supermarket, which one cannot find elsewhere in the vicinity of Uluru and Kata Tjuta Uluru is one of Australia's best known natural features, the long domed rock having achieved iconic status as one of the symbols of the continent. The rock is a so-called monolith, i.e.

a single piece of rock or a giant boulder, extending about 5 km beneath the desert plain and measuring 3.6 by 2.4 km at the surface. It rises 348 metres above the plain (862.5 metres above sea level) and has a circumference of 9.4 km. Some say that Uluru is the biggest of its kind, others say that Mount Augustus in Western Australia is bigger. Whatever the case may be, standing in front of Uluru and seeing its massive bulk rise above the flat plain surrounding it, it is nothing less than impressive. The rock undergoes dramatic colour changes with its normally terracotta hue gradually changing to blue or violet at sunset to flaming red in the mornings as the sunrises behind it. But the rock also extends some 1.5 miles underground. The Anangu Aborigines believe this space is actually hollow but it contains an energy source and marks the spot where their 'dreamtime' began. They also believe that area around Uluru is the home of their ancestors and is inhabited by many ancestral 'beings'.

Valley of the Winds, Kata Tjuta Kata Tjuta is a collection of 36 variously-sized rock domes 36km to the west of Uluru. Some geologists believe that once it may have been a monolith far surpassing Uluru in size, but that it eroded to several separate bulks of rock. Flora and fauna[ edit ] Apart from these two main features the park also protects hundreds of plant species, 24 native mammal species and 72 reptile species. To protect these, off-road access away from Uluru and Kata Tjuta is not allowed. Climate[ edit ] In December and January, the temperature can be blistering hot with temperatures exceeding 45 degrees Celsius, and occasionally tipping over 50, and some areas may be closed for travellers' safety. July and August can see minimum overnight temperatures drop to as low as minus 10 Celsius, with day time maximums occasionally only reaching as high as 15 degrees Celsius. April and September offer a more temperate climate, although still warm enough to work up a sweat at mid-day.

Remoteness[ edit ] One aspect of Uluru-Kata Tjuta that many foreigners find hard to fathom is the sheer distances between locations in Australia. Distances shown below are by road. Yulara Resort to Mala Car Park (Uluru) is 21 km Mala Car Park (Uluru) to Valley of The Winds Car Park (Kata Tjuta) is 55 km. Yulara to Curtin Springs is 85 km. Bear this in mind if you are shocked by the price of fuel at Yulara and you think fuel might be cheaper elsewhere (chances are that it isn't - fuel in the Australian Outback is usually more than 50% more expensive than fuel in Australia's major cities). Yulara to Alice Springs is 447 km, or in other words, a 5.5-6 hour drive or a 40 minute flight. Bear this in mind if you need an ambulance or roadside assistance because Alice Springs has the closest base of these services to Uluru-Kata Tjuta. Yulara to Sydney is 2820 km, which shows just how big Australia is.

This is a 29 hour drive assuming you stick to the speed limit and don't stop or a 3 hour flight. In comparison, Sydney to Auckland (in New Zealand) is only 2161 km. By car[ edit ] Outback, Australia. Street between Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and Alice Springs From the north, in Alice Springs take the Stuart Highway (87) South for about 200km to Erldunda Roadhouse. Turn right onto the Lasseter Highway and 245 km further on you arrive at Yulara ). It's a sealed tarmac road - a bit of a sloping surface in places, but you can easily drive along at 120 km/hr. Far more cars on the road than you would imagine, and every driver waves hello to you (that's what you get in these far off places!) Plenty of places to stop and picnic and get water, although no toilets unless you stop at an official roadhouse (few and far between). There's lots of wildlife to see too: camels, cows, dingos and birds. Cars can also be hired in Alice Springs.

It is a 450 km drive to the resort from Alice, and should take between 4 and 5 hours. There are petrol stations along the Stuart Highway and the Lasseter Highway. Be sure to top off your tank when you can. In addition, if you have an early flight from Alice Springs and plan to drive back in the morning, be sure to top off the day before, as fuel in Yulara is not open 24 hours - and they won't be open if you leave pre-dawn. To the south the nearest town is Coober Pedy . Take the Stuart Highway north to Erldunda, 550 km away. From the west the Docker River Road ends near Kata Tjuta. As this road is considered part of the Gunbarrel Highway , you will find detailed information in that article. Driving at night can be dangerous because of animals on the road, particularly kangaroos and cows (Lasseter Highway goes through cattle station land and is not fenced in all the way). Rental car agreements often prevent doing this drive outside daylight hours. By tour[ edit ] A number of tour companies based in Alice Springs visit Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park.

Tours range from basic 1 day bus tours (beware, this means at least 1,000 km of driving in 1 day) up to 5 days long, also often visiting Kings Canyon and the MacDonnell ranges on the way. Uluru Motorcycle Tours, ☎ 61 8 89562019 ( ulurucycles@bigpond.com.au ), [2] . ulurucycles@bigpond.com.au offers rides out to Uluru and Kata Tjuta on the back of one of a range of authentic Harley Davidson Heritage Softail motorcyles. You can be a passenger or, if you have a motorcycle license, you can hire one of these road hogs and tour the region over a course of hours, a day or several days edit Travelwild Ayers Rock Tours, ☎ 61 8 88434158 ( tours@travelwild.com.au ), [3] .

Small group 4WD tours for backpackers and active people, 3 and 5 day 4WD camping tours edit Wayoutback Desert Safaris, ☎ 61 8 8952 4324, [4] . Small group 4WD tours from one to five days, including Uluru and red centre, MacDonnell Ranges, Aboriginal community. Also tours from or to Darwin, including Kakadu National Park. edit Emu Run Tours, ☎ 61 8 8953 7057 ( info@emurun.com.au ), [5] . edit Lost In Australia, ☎ =+61 8 6102 0776 ( info@lostinaustralia.org ), [6] . Adventure, small groups, 4WD safaris, locally owned and operated. edit Northern Territory Air Services, Alice Springs Airport, NT, ☎ =+61 08 8953 1444 ( operations@ntas.net.au ), [7] . NTAS offers scenic flights and air adventure tours to Uluru - Ayers Rock departing Alice Springs. '.

edit Tour companies also provide longer tours from many of Australia's capital cities including Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne. Longhorn YOUnique Tours, ☎ =+61 418328397 ( enquiries@longhorntours.com.au ), [8] . Eco certified small group and private tours depart from Melbourne traveling to outback NT SA family owned and operated. '. edit By bus[ edit ] Uluru Express runs buses out to the rock everyday. uluruexpress@bigpond.com.au They are clean, comfortable and air-conditioned. The services run hourly to every hour and a half. Visitors can see sunrise and/or sunset and can pay for tickets to access Uluru and Kata Tjuta over a number of days for one price. Prices start from $30 per person. By plane[ edit ] Ayers Rock (Connellan) airport is around 15km north of the rock, and services the resort town of Yulara . Both major carriers Qantas [9] and Virgin Australia [10] fly there. There are direct flights from Alice Springs , Cairns , Sydney , and Perth . The airport accommodates scheduled flights with A320 and 737 equipment.

It has no airbridges and requires you to walk to/from your plane. Rental car offices, the baggage claim carousel and the entrance from the tarmac are literally right next to one another. The departures lounge has one duty free shop, one cafe (at the same prices you'd find at Yulara) and free wifi. Many travellers also fly to Alice Springs and drive or take a tour from there, but it is well over 5 hours drive from Alice Springs to Yulara . Unlimited mileage car hire is not common in Alice Springs if you arrive and hire a car on the spot from the majors. Travel agents and the government tourist office [11] do have access to unlimited milage rates. Flights from Alice Springs cost around $135 upwards with Qantas. By motorcycle[ edit ] Uluru Motorcycle Tours ulurucycles@bigpond.com.au offers rides out to Uluru and Kata Tjuta on the back of one of a range of authentic Harley Davidson Heritage Softail motorcyles. You can be a passenger or, if you have a motorcycle license, you can hire one of these road hogs and tour the region over a course of hours, a day or several days.

By bicycle[ edit ] The sealed road from the Stuart Highway makes for a pleasant & relatively easy cycle tour, undertaken each year by dozens of travellers. Bicycle travellers need to be well prepared in terms of mechanical reliability, water & food, and will need to "bush camp" several nights at least. Fees/Permits[ edit ] A three-day permit to enter the National Park costs $25 per person. Entry is free for children under 16 years of age. A permit to enter the park may or may not be included in a tour you book. Ask your booking agent if your tour fee includes the permit to enter the park. NOTE: Only buy your park pass from a tour operator or at the entry gate to the National Park. Do not purchase them off other people. Passes are non transferable and must have the name of the person who is using it. Rangers can ask for photo ID when viewing your pass. Get around[ edit ] The big rocks are actually a little distance from Yulara , where the accommodation and facilities are. If you are not with a tour, or didn't bring your car, you will need to decide how best to get to these locations.

Hire cars can be expensive, and have limited kilometres; however shuttles to and from the rock are also expensive, so do the maths and see what works best for you. Cars can be rented nearby at Ayers Rock/Connellan Airport or at Yulara . The roads around Uluru and Kata Tjuta are all sealed, paved and well-maintained so you dont require a 4wd. Vehicles drive on the left. Be aware of additional charges that may apply Including premium location or one way surcharge. Also ensure you book early so you are not disappointed. AAT Kings [12] , ph 03 9915 1500, fax 03 9820 4088, enquiries@aatkings.com.au . AAT Kings operate bus sightseeing tours of the park, including sunrise over Uluru and Kata Tjuta. Tours range from $40 to $150. Ayers Rock Tours [13] . Many of the longer tours of the Ayers Rock Region depart and return to Alice Springs. Some will pick up at Ayers Rock but do not drop back at Ayers Rock.

If you are wanting to do a 3 day or 5 day tour and experience the entire region it is best to start and finish in Alice Springs. Uluru Express [14] offers unlimited access to the Park from your choice of hotel for 2-days or 3-days at a cost of AU$170 or AU$195, respectively. This cost includes the admission fee to the Park. This is a great deal for those who wish to see all the attractions in the park at their own pace. Other trips are available. See[ edit ][ add listing ] Uluru Uluru -- there is a NEW (opened 8th October 2009) sunrise viewing area. The area, "Talinguru Nyakuntjaku" (which means 'place to look from the sand dune')is on the Eastern side of Uluru. It gives you a raised viewing area, and you can also see Kata Tjuta to the side from the viewing point., and a sunset viewing point between the Kata Tjuta turn-off and the cultural centre.

In addition, the area also has 1.6km of walking tracks, carpark, shade shelters, toilets, reliable free wifi and an area that can be used for concerts. Kata Tjuta -- also has a well-marked sunrise / sunset viewing point on the road leading to the domes. The Cultural Centre -- built in 1995 to mark the 10th anniversary of Handover (the process by which land was given back to the traditional owners, and Ayers Rock became Uluru). Its worth a visit before walking around Uluru as it hosts a multitude of aboriginal creation stories and extensive articles about the history of the Pitjantjara. There are shops where you can buy local art and souvenirs. It's also a good place for a rest after trekking around Uluru. Uluru[ edit ] On the top of Uluru Rock (Ayers Rock) The Uluru base walk (9.8km) and will take 3-4 hours. Most people walk clockwise on the track but a few kilometres along this track the crowds thin out to just an occasional walker.

The Mala Walk (2 km) This track begins at the Mala Walk car-park and ends at the inspiring Kantju Gorge. The Liru Walk is a walk between the cultural centre and the base of Uluru. Its 4km and takes about 1 and a half hours. The Kuniya Walk is an easy 1km walk to the Mutitjulu Waterhole on the Southern side of Uluru. There is some rock art here also in the rock shelter, and a good place to learn about the Tjukurpa (pronounced Chook-a-pa) of the area. Kata Tjuta[ edit ] The Walpa Gorge walk (2.6 km) is the shorter - and easier - of the two walks around Kata Tjuta. The Valley of the Winds walk (7.4 km) at Kata Tjuta is truly magnificent and should not be missed. The walk consists of a single path to the first lookout point. From this point, the walk enters further into Kata Tjuta, where a loop trail brings you to the second lookout point. The counter-clockwise (left-round) direction is recommended.

The complete walk (to both lookouts) takes about 3 hours, and carrying bottled water is advised, although there are two water stations along the route. The walk beyond the first lookout may be closed during extreme weather. As with the Uluru climb, a sign at the park entrance will advise visitors whether the walk to the second lookout is open. This walk is best during the early morning hours, before the large crowds arrive, permitting you to see more wildlife. The walk beyond the first lookout will be closed at 1100 if the forecast high temperature is above 36 degrees C, which is very common in summer. The walk is also over rocky and hilly terrain. Therefore, good hiking shoes are not only recommended, but should be required. The Kata Tjuta Dune Viewing Area is a short walk off the road to Kata Tjuta. It gives you a great view to Kata Tjuta, and as the name suggests its located on the top of a sand dune. It also gives a good view of Uluru from a distance. 600m and allow at least 1/2 hour. General Tours[ edit ] Helicopter tours can be arranged at Yulara.

They range from short buzzes over Uluru and / or Kata Tjuta to longer trips taking in more of the landscape, and possibly King's Canyon as well. Camel to sunrise or sunset Another wonderful experience - cost is $95 pp. You are taken from the resort to the camel farm where you are instructed on what you need to do. The owner is very friendly. The camel trek is through surrounding desert, giving good views all around with a talk on camel history and the area, before reaching a viewing point to watch the sun rising or setting on Uluru. The camels are well cared for animals, not at all smelly, and all very well behaved. At the camel farm there is home made beer bread with wattle seed dip, camel meat, bush fruits and a variety of drinks. There is also the opportunity to purchase from the gift shop. Eat[ edit ][ add listing ] The Cultural Centre near Uluru offers surprisingly good - and often vegetarian-friendly - fast food for reasonable prices. The Sounds Of Silence Dinner is an extremely popular - albeit expensive ($159 per adult) - night under the stars. Advance bookings (e.g. 3-4 days) are essential even in low seasons.

Coaches take diners from Yulara to one of a few dining areas out in the desert. Champagne (or beer, upon request) are served while the sun goes down over Uluru and the inevitable didgeridoo plays. The clean, elegant dining area is lit by table lamps. The food is served buffet-style, but it's cooked with the attention of a gourmet chef (considering the circumstances). Between the main course and dessert, a star talker guides you through the stars that are out that night, and telescopes are available afterward. There is also a camp fire in the winter. Reservations can be made at travel agents or the various tour offices around Yulara. Ostensibly, reservations can be made over the internet as well, but it's a good idea to follow-up by phone, as coordination between the resort offices and the tour company are spotty at best. Desert Awakenings, occasionaly available, is a breakfast version of the aforementioned Sounds of Silence. It includes a guided tour around the base of Uluru and ends at the Cultural Centre. Drink[ edit ][ add listing ] Water! And lots of it (even in winter).

Fortunately, there are a few high-quality free drinking water taps around Uluru and Kata Tjuta, and you can buy bottled water in many places, most cheaply at the IGA in Yulara. No alcohol is sold outside of Yulara , and please heed the tribal elders' warnings not to sell or give alcohol to local Aborigines. Sleep[ edit ][ add listing ] There is no accommodation inside the park, and no camping is permitted within the park boundaries. Accommodation from 5-star to camping is available in at the resort village of Yulara , just outside the park boundary. See that article for details. About an hour short of Yulara (coming from Alice Springs) is Curtin Springs Station [15] , which offers free unpowered camping, and $25 per night for powered sites. They charge $2.50 for a shower. You can "bush camp", but it's not recommended. If you are interested in Aboriginal culture, consider staying at Mt Ebenezer. It's 200km to Uluru from here, so you won't see sunrise, but it's good for a night's stop if you are late getting away from Alice or Uluru.

Whilst the accommodation is relatively basic, it is one of only a few Aboriginal owned roadhouses in the Territory. Go out the back and you will see an art room for members of the local Imampa Community, and you can buy art directly from the artists. Don't be put off by not being served by an Aboriginal person, this is due to their culture, but rest assured it is owned by the local community. Stay safe[ edit ] NOTE: Do not enter the Mutitjulu Community or any Sacred sites without Authority. All the information you ever want on Culture is available at the Cultural Centre and it's well worth the visit. Also, don't take photos of Sacred Sites (they are well signposted), and don't take photographs of people without their permission. It's just courtesy. Unless you're well-equipped with an appropriate vehicle, supplies and maps, stay on the sealed roads. Keep an eye on your fuel supply before you set off anywhere. Keep plenty of water with you at all times while you're hiking. Whether or not you're thirsty, stop for a drink at least once an hour. The temperatures can be extreme during the summer (particularly December to January). Wear a hat and don't be shy with the sunscreen.

Expect to be annoyed by flies, particularly on some stretches of the Valley of the Winds walk. Wear comfortable walking / hiking shoes. Some of the terrain you may be traversing will be steep and covered with loose stones. Thongs, flip-flops, boat-shoes, and loafers are not recommended for the Uluru Climb, the Valley of the Winds walk, nor the Gorge walk. Runners (sneakers) are acceptable. Although the Uluru sunrise vieweing area and the visitor centre have free Wifi and mobile reception, don't expect this at other parts of the National Park, which includes the walking trails. This also means that an automotive emergency that gets you stuck at the side of the road would leave you with one option: hitchiking. If you need a rescue while climbing Uluru, the emergency services will take at least 4 hours to get to you as they need to drive from Alice Springs. Only very rarely will someone with a medical emergency be airlifted off the Uluru climb because there are very few possible landing sites for helicopters on top of Uluru. Get out[ edit ] Curtin Springs Station makes a good base for a trip to King's Canyon , a similarly magnificent geological wonder.

Make sure you fuel up in Yulara until Alice Springs when going that way, as fuel pices on the way are unbearable! This is a guide article. It has a variety of good, quality information about the park including attractions, activities, lodging, campgrounds, restaurants, and arrival/departure info. Plunge forward and help us make it a star ! Australian Cities, States and Territories - Tourism Australia Add Share Mainland Australia is the world’s largest island but also the smallest continent. The country is divided into six states and two territories. What are Australia's cities, states and territories? Mainland Australia is the world’s largest island but also the smallest continent. The country is divided into six states and two territories. Australian Capital Territory The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) bounds the national capital of Canberra and is the centre of government. The Australian Capital Territory is located approximately 290 kilometres (180 miles) south of Sydney, and is home to a number of important national institutions, including Parliament House, the Australian War Memorial and the National Gallery of Australia. New South Wales New South Wales (NSW) is Australia’s oldest and most populous state.

New South Wales was originally settled as a penal colony on the shores of Port Jackson where the bustling capital city of Sydney now stands. Sydney is the nation’s largest city and is renowned for its idyllic beaches, great walks and world-class dining. New South Wales is also home to popular attractions including the Blue Mountains and the Hunter Valley wine region. Northern Territory At the top end of Australia lies the Northern Territory (NT). Darwin , on the northern coast, is the capital, and Alice Springs is the principal inland town. Alice Springs is the physical heart of Australia, almost exactly at the nation's geographical centre. The Northern Territory is home to the famous Uluru (Ayers Rock), Kata Tjuta (the Olgas) and Kakadu National Park . Queensland Queensland (QLD) is Australia’s second-largest state (in size) and is home to the world famous Great Barrier Reef , the world’s most extensive subtropical rainforest and the beautiful Queensland Islands – including the World Heritage-listed Fraser Island . Brisbane is the state’s capital; it enjoys more winter sunshine and warmth than most Australian cities and is perfect for outdoor activities and water sports.

South Australia South Australia (SA) sits in the southern central part of the country, and covers some of the most arid parts of the continent. The state’s capital is Adelaide and is a great base for exploring the Barossa wineries, the Flinders Ranges and Kangaroo Island . South Australia has a thriving arts scene and is known as the ‘Festival State’, with more than 500 events and festivals taking place there each year. Tasmania Tasmania (TAS) is separated from mainland Australia by the Bass Strait and is the smallest state in Australia. The capital, Hobart , was founded in 1804 as a penal colony, and is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. One-fifth of Tasmania is covered by national parks and wilderness – abundant in driving routes and walking trails – and it is one of the world’s most mountainous islands. Victoria Victoria (VIC) is the smallest of the mainland states in size but is home to the country’s second most populated city, Melbourne . Often referred to as the nation’s cultural capital, Melbourne is famed for its graffiti laneways, fashion-forward boutiques and booming café scene. Victorians' enthusiasm for sport is also legendary and this is where Australian Rules football began.

The only thing more sacred than the footy is Melbournians love of coffee, and here you’ll find some of Australia’s best flat whites, cappuccinos and piccolo lattes. Western Australia Western Australia (WA) is Australia’s largest state and is a place of true contrasts: from desert in the east to 13,000 kilometres of pristine coastline on the west. The state’s capital is Perth ; the fourth most populous city in Australia and famed for its uncrowded beaches, parklands and fresh seafood. Off the coast of Esperance, in the state’s south, is Middle Island, which is home to the extraordinary pink-coloured Lake Hillier . Australia also administers Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, the Cocos (or Keeling) Islands, the Coral Sea Islands, Heard and McDonald Islands, Norfolk Island and the Australian Antarctic Territory (covering 42 per cent of the Antarctic continent) as external territories. MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS

Question: In which Australian state is one of the southern hemisphere's most remarkable sites, Ayers Rock?
Answer: NORTHERN TERRITORY